In red-state
Ohio, gay and transgender state workers will now be legally
protected from workplace discrimination.
Democratic
governor Ted Strickland signed an executive order on
Thursday that bans discrimination against state
government employees because of their orientation. The
order also protects those who consider themselves the
opposite gender. In signing the protections, the governor is
actually restoring provisions for state workers that
existed for 15 years but were struck down by Gov. Bob
Taft in 2000.
The governor's
order does not need approval by the general assembly but
will expire when Strickland leaves office. The governor's
spokesman said the order was the fairest way to ensure
that "employment decisions are based on performance
and not perception." (The Advocate)